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Publishing Company Puts Warning Label on US Constitution

Publishing Company Under Fire for Putting Warning Label on Constitution

A small publishing company is under fire after putting warning labels on copies of the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence and other historical documents.

Wilder Publications warns readers of its reprints of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, Common Sense, the Articles of Confederation, and the Federalist Papers, among others, that “This book is a product of its time and does not reflect the same values as it would if it were written today.”

The disclaimer goes on to tell parents that they "might wish to discuss with their children how views on race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and interpersonal relations have changed since this book was written before allowing them to read this classic work."

Walter Olson, senior fellow at the Cato Institute, says the company may be trying to ensure that oversensitive people don't pull its works off bookstore or library shelves.

"Any idea that’s 100 years old will probably offend someone or other," Olson told FoxNews.com. "…But if there’s anything that you ought to be able to take at a first gulp for yourself and then ask your parents if you're wondering about this or that strange thing, it should be the founding documents of American history."

The warning seems to be offending more people than the documents themselves.

Amazon.com’s customer reviews of Wilder’s copy of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Articles of Confederation show an overwhelming number of people speaking out against the disclaimer, describing it as “insulting,” “sickening” and “frankly, horrifying.”

Another review for Wilder’s edition of the Federalist Papers calls for an all-out boycott of the publisher, sarcastically pointing out the "dangerous ideas" it’s trying to protect children from: "limited government, checks and balances, constrained judicial review, dual sovereignty of states and federal government, and deliberative democracy."

And though warning labels are usually posted to protect a company from potential lawsuits, constitutional attorney Noel Francisco says this disclaimer has no legal benefits.

"Would it ever be a legal concern that selling the Constitution would expose you to some kind of liability? No. Never,” Francisco told FoxNews.com. "The Constitution is the founding document of the country, an operative legal document."

As for the idea that this warning label might help keep these works from being yanked off bookshelves, Francisco says it is more likely to have the opposite effect: people not carrying the book because it has the disclaimer.

"By putting on the warning, you’re making controversial something that’s not controversial: our Constitution, our Declaration of Independence," he said.

Amazon customers appear to agree. Almost all of the reviews discussing the disclaimer end with the same thought: don't buy from this publisher.

That's a completely valid point though. The questions are very relevant. Some people view the constitution as a living, breathing document, while others view it as being written in stone - very rigid. If you watch the Supreme Court nominees during the confirmation hearings...those are the same questions that are asked. Personally I think things/documents like that should always be questioned... the world is constantly changing. We should never become complacent to that fact.

Next time I have to go to court I'll remind the judge that according to Wilder publishing. The US Constitution is a product of its time and does not reflect the same values as it would if written today.
Your right DD things are headed into the shitter. But we do have freedom of the press and free speech according to some piece of paper written by a bunch of whiskey drinking/slave owning/christian/property owners who didn't want to pay taxes to a King and his Dukes and Earls.

EVH 1979: Well, actually it's not much of a vacation, because we run everything ourselves. We design our own album cover, we have to be in the office every day to sign checks - the whole corporation revolves around us. Nothing can be done without our approval. We even have photo approval.

This country is in trouble. Nevermind 50 years ago, it's almost unrecognizable from even 25 years ago.

You would really like to see this country the way it was 50 years ago? The struggle to pass the civil rights movement? The apex of McCarthyism? Really?

We've become quite a melodramatic and reactionary society with the advent of the 24 hr cable news networks and the internet. People doing and saying stupid things isn't something new with this day of age, it just never recieved the media attention that it does now. Crying wolf certainly doesn't help anything.

What I've never been able to understand is why people are intent on giving attention to things that are said and done just for that reason--to get attention.

You would really like to see this country the way it was 50 years ago? The struggle to pass the civil rights movement? The apex of McCarthyism? Really?

We've become quite a melodramatic and reactionary society with the advent of the 24 hr cable news networks and the internet. People doing and saying stupid things isn't something new with this day of age, it just never recieved the media attention that it does now. Crying wolf certainly doesn't help anything.

What I've never been able to understand is why people are intent on giving attention to things that are said and done just for that reason--to get attention.

Well outside of the civil rights movement, yes I would have liked to be living 50 years ago. What is so great about today other than "equal rights?"

We are taxed more than previously. Violent crime is up. Disposable income is down. We work more hours. Out of wedlock babies is higher. Nuclear Proliferation is more rampant. War on Terror is more frightening than the Cold War. Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. Lawsuits. Partisianship running rampant through Congress. Kids being raised by zero parents. STD's higher. Alcoholism and drug use higher. Health care by world standards is lower. Education by world standards is lower. Manufacturing has been outsourced. Bankruptcy and foreclosers are higher. Savings are down and people owe a shitload to credit.

I can go on.

If it was 50 years ago, Eddie Van Halen would be still a kid and in about 16 more years, I would be treated to a great album with the original lead singer. The Beatles would be playing in Hamburg, JFK would be in the White House and we would be looking forward to a great era of music.

Sure there are certain elements that make today better than 50 years ago however there are also a lot of other problems that we have today that we didn't back then. While we have progressed in certain areas, we have regressed in a lot more.

That's a completely valid point though. The questions are very relevant. Some people view the constitution as a living, breathing document, while others view it as being written in stone - very rigid. If you watch the Supreme Court nominees during the confirmation hearings...those are the same questions that are asked. Personally I think things/documents like that should always be questioned... the world is constantly changing. We should never become complacent to that fact.

I have no problem with the 'disclaimer'. If you are offended, don't buy it from them. If that's how the publisher feels, they are entitled to their opinion. If we try and lambaste a business soley for an opinion, then what the fuck are we doing arguiing about anyone's rights for? if you disagree with it, great, that's part and parcel of the American experience and freedoms. If you agree with it-great, same thing. If more people are offended than those who aren't, won't the system of a free market bear that out and the right outcome, whatever that is, will occur? Political correctness has got to die!

Well outside of the civil rights movement, yes I would have liked to be living 50 years ago. What is so great about today other than "equal rights?"

We are taxed more than previously. Violent crime is up. Disposable income is down. We work more hours. Out of wedlock babies is higher. Nuclear Proliferation is more rampant. War on Terror is more frightening than the Cold War. Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. Lawsuits. Partisianship running rampant through Congress. Kids being raised by zero parents. STD's higher. Alcoholism and drug use higher. Health care by world standards is lower. Education by world standards is lower. Manufacturing has been outsourced. Bankruptcy and foreclosers are higher. Savings are down and people owe a shitload to credit.

There's not much about that which isn't anecdotal and subjective. Making general accusations is fine, I guess, but it completely ignores all antecedents. Nothing that you have mentioned is as black and white as you make it seem.

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